Wellness Wave Wisdom

By Mx. Van Ethan Levy (they | elle) LMFT & LPCC Van is a queer, non binary, trans, AFAB (Assigned Female at Birth), dually licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. Van is passionate about holding space for all intersections of one’s identity(ies). Van also provides trainings on trans and non-binary identities, is author of the interactive book Exploring My Identity(ies) (2020), and the organizer of the upcoming Do Something: Identity(ies) conference, an international virtual gathering that centers and celebrates the most erased and underrepresented realities within the LGBTQPIA2S+ community. Both Van’s book and conference attendance is free for MCC students. When hearing the term Intimate partner violence (IPV) , many think of physical violence. While physical abuse is one form of IPV, it is only one piece of a much larger reality of IPV. Intimate partner violence can include emotional abuse, verbal abuse, coercive control, financial abus...

  Adrian is a graduate student at National University pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology. He holds a master’s degree in forensic psychology and a bachelor’s degree in sociology, with additional training in crisis intervention, restorative justice, cultural competency, addiction and recovery, domestic violence advocacy, adolescent development, and safe spaces for diverse communities. Taking the first action to seek help for drug or alcohol use can feel confusing, intimidating, and overwhelming. Many people know they want things to change but are unsure where to start. The good news is that recovery does not begin with having all the answers. It begins with a conversation. Speaking with someone about sobriety can be one of the most important first actions on the road to recovery. Whether that conversation is with a counselor, a person in recovery, a trusted friend, or a support group, reaching out can help reduce feelings of isolation and uncertainty. F...

By Rachel Benson, LMFT Rachel received her Masters's Degree in Counseling Psychology and specialized in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) with Distinction. She is originally from Hong Kong, and she speaks several languages, including Cantonese and Mandarin. Rachel is certified in Brainspotting, and trained in Play Therapy, sand tray therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Gottman Couples Therapy . When a craving arises, try imagining it as an ocean wave.  Notice where you feel the craving in your body, from head to toe. Is there tightness in your chest, tension in your stomach, or a feeling of constriction in your throat? Gently take a few slow, deep breaths and observe the sensation with curiosity. You do not need to fight the craving or give in to it; simply pause and allow yourself to notice it. As the craving begins to settle, practice the 54321 grounding exercise by identifying 5 things you can see, pause; 4 things you can touch, pause; 3 things you ...

By Dianna Lopez, Mental Health Counseling Intern Dianna earned her Bachelor’s in Psychology with a minor in Business from UCSD, and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at USD. As a first-generation college student, she is passionate about spreading awareness of mental health services as a necessary resource for all individuals, along with breaking down the stigma surrounding therapy, especially in minority cultures. In her counseling sessions, Dianna focuses on creating a welcoming environment where anyone can come in and feel heard, and uses cognitive behavioral interventions to build a collaborative space and work to shift unhelpful thoughts. Summertime calls for fun times in the sun. Sometimes, the fear of missing out (FOMO) can make it difficult to say no to substances or activities that don’t align with your comfort level. Large crowds can bring on social anxiety, sensory overload, or pressure to fit in. It is okay to take a break, leave ...

by Nidya Ramirez Ibarra, LMFT Nidya Ramirez Ibarra is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who grew up in Escondido, CA. An immigrant and past community organizer, Nidya utilizes her knowledge and years of experience as a therapist to co-create a space to initiate change, gain insight, build skills, and establish support. Prior to joining the mental health team at MiraCosta College, among Nidya’s experiences was working for 8 years at a local non-profit with families, individuals, and children struggling with trauma due to intimate partner violence and sexual abuse. In addition to working with students in individual, relationship, and family counseling sessions, Nidya also facilitates MiraCosta’s support activities for undocumented/ mixed status students and their loved ones. The common idea about abusive relationships is a picture of something visible or loud, like screaming or physical violence. However, many unhealthy and abusive relationships do not ...

  Practicing Harm Reduction in substance use and process/behavioral addictions By Jesus Mendez Carbajal, APCC Jesus is a bilingual (Spanish/English) Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC) who holds a B.A. in Chicana/o Studies with a minor in Women’s Studies, and an M.S. in Counseling from SDSU’s Community Based Block (CBB) Multicultural Community Counseling and Social Justice Education Program. Jesus understands that while the issues people face are personally experienced, they’re also connected to systems of power, privilege and oppression and their impact extends beyond the self. Overall, Jesus is a passionate life-long student of healing, plant knowledge, emotional wellness, mental health, and spirituality. It’s ok if you don’t want to stop using a substance or stop a behavior--unless you’re causing harm to minors, dependent adults or elderly adults. Working with the assumption that one is not actively causing harm to others, can we sit with the reality that we don’t w...